Chapter 8
The mansion alarms screamed before we reached the main drive.
Gunmen had entered through the service gate.
The same gate Vincent used.
Tony shouted into his radio.
“Medical suite. Lock it down.”
No answer.
My heart slammed against my ribs.
Hannah ran faster than I expected.
“Ellie!”
I grabbed her arm before she crossed the open courtyard.
“Stay behind me.”
“She’s my child.”
“And I’m trying to keep her mother alive.”
She hated that I was right.
We entered through the west hall.
Smoke filled the corridor.
Not fire.
Distraction.
My men moved through it with weapons drawn.
I heard Ellie crying before I saw her.
The medical suite door was open.
Dr. Greene lay on the floor, conscious but bleeding from his forehead.
Two guards were down.
Ellie was gone.
Hannah made a sound I will never forget.
Not a scream.
A soul tearing.
On the bed lay Rosie, Ellie’s stuffed rabbit.
Pinned beneath it was a note.
Trade the files for the child.
Come alone.
Old pier.
Midnight.
Hannah grabbed the note.
“No. No.”
I turned to Tony.
“Seal roads. Track vehicles. Find Vincent.”
Tony nodded.
Hannah rounded on me.
“This is because of you.”
“Yes.”
I did not defend myself.
Her daughter had been taken because she saved me.
Because David told the truth.
Because Elena hid evidence.
Because I let snakes live under my roof.
Hannah hit my chest with both fists.
“You promised safety.”
“I failed.”
She sobbed.
I let her hit me until she had no strength left.
Then I caught her wrists gently.
“I will bring her back.”
“If you don’t?”
I looked toward Lily’s empty room down the hall.
I knew what it meant to fail a child.
I would not survive doing it twice.
“Then I don’t come back either.”
Her eyes widened.
I released her.
At midnight, I went to the pier.
Not alone.
Never alone.
But Carlo would believe I was desperate enough to obey.
May you like
He had counted on grief once.
This time, I brought rage with a plan.
